Im interested to see what Sather does this offseason

I love the moves Sather made last offseason (I like Boogaard, but not the contract) even if they did not all work out.

Eminger has played great for us, as has Fedotenko and Biron.

Boogaard was a reactionary signing that currently is a burden. The money is not the problem, it is the years. A player like Boogaard should only get 2 years at max, you could always give an extension later on. I'd hate for Boogaard to end up in the AHL or anywhere else, because of the contract he was given, but I think that may happen.

I think Frolov could have worked out very well if he was given the right system and linemates. It was a great signing that just did not fit.

I am beginning to think that Richards is done in Dallas. Dallas may sneak in to the POs, but I don't see Chicago letting go of their spot. Richards will make this team not only make the Rangers better, but he will make them one of the deepest teams in the league.

If Richards does not happen, I'd like to see a puck PMD, a perhaps some hard-nosed TWF veterans. I know we have tons of TWFs already, but one more to band-aid a spot for a few months would not hurt. It's either Richards, or low-risk high-reward guys for me. I don't want the in-between.

I'd go for Richards but have a harsh limit with what I was willing to pay him. We have enough assets in the system that we'll be able to trade for a YOUNGER elite player if we want in a year or two... or we could even trade up in the draft. Additionally, I don't think Drury completely leaves and I think we'll be out of big money signings until 2012. That's not really a bad thing. We should make the playoffs this year and next. Then we could sign a guy like Ryan Suter in 2012 or, even though it's early to look that far ahead, sign someone from the 2013 class (which is going to be stacked even if half the guys resign before then).

He has 16 goals and 18 assists in 57 games played after a TERRIBLE start to the season. If he can stay healthy, he is a lock for 30 goals. The guy just knows how to score.

I don't understand why no one likes the idea of Markov? He is an elite defenseman that could be had for very little and he would add experience and a PP QB to the back-end. People want Richards, imagine a #1 PP unit with Richards and Markov on the blue-line with Gaborik operating from the half-boards. They would have one of, if not THE best PP in the league.

He has 16 goals and 18 assists in 57 games played after a TERRIBLE start to the season. If he can stay healthy, he is a lock for 30 goals. The guy just knows how to score.

He looks pretty scrubbish out there. Not nearly the same player he used to be. If we could sign him 1 yr, 2.5-3m, sure, but he's too much of a risk for anything more than an experiment.

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I don't understand why no one likes the idea of Markov? He is an elite defenseman that could be had for very little and he would add experience and a PP QB to the back-end. People want Richards, imagine a #1 PP unit with Richards and Markov on the blue-line with Gaborik operating from the half-boards. They would have one of, if not THE best PP in the league.

Maybe it's because he's had 2 major knee injuries the past two seasons?

Does Markov make us a contender though? It would give us a pretty stacked D group but I think getting an elite first line forward pushes us over better because Hank can make up for a weaker D, especially because the D isn't really even weak anymore.

You guys really might want to reconsider Richards as our teams saving grace. I'm a Stars fan too and he's been a shell of his former self since coming back from his concussion. There's a lot of unknowns going forth about if he'll regain his previous form. The 10 games he's been back he's been god awful.

As both a Rangers fan and a Stars fan I'm not sure if I want either of my teams to sign him to a long term deal at this point.

You guys really might want to reconsider Richards as our teams saving grace. I'm a Stars fan too and he's been a shell of his former self since coming back from his concussion. There's a lot of unknowns going forth about if he'll regain his previous form. The 10 games he's been back he's been god awful.

As both a Rangers fan and a Stars fan I'm not sure if I want either of my teams to sign him to a long term deal at this point.

He'll be fine for whatever team he plays for next year. I'm pretty sure that was his first concussion, and it wasn't even a serious one (look at Crosby, HIS was bad), he may be a bit rusty coming off it, but the concussion surely hasn't changed his ability.

He'll be fine for whatever team he plays for next year. I'm pretty sure that was his first concussion, and it wasn't even a serious one (look at Crosby, HIS was bad), he may be a bit rusty coming off it, but the concussion surely hasn't changed his ability.

You couldn't possibly know this. Interesting little bit of info about BR there. Starting to think this is a contract to avoidl.

If 3/4 of the board made the decisions, the Ranger wouldn't have Stepan as that picks was loathed. This is Sather's job.

Sather wanted to keep Shelley. Turns out the Flyers gave him a terrible contract. It had nothing to do with "Brashear fiasco" (BTW, who was responsible for that)?

Sather could have added a legit heavyweight without committing big money or multiple years.

And that shows that he has not changed his ways in throwing (too much) money at the problem.

It doesn't show it so much as it foreshadows it. The move isn't a bad enough contract toa ctually "show" or prove it. Plus Frolov was a 1 year deal and Boog can be sent down. There are ways out of the contracts if they don't work oujt which to me suggests he at least realizes he's made mistakes. Not repeating them is another thing entirely but he didn't exactly repeat them last year. Didn't exactly avoid them either though so I understand your point.

You couldn't possibly know this. Interesting little bit of info about BR there. Starting to think this is a contract to avoidl.

I'm absolutely sick of hearing the word concussion to be honest... people freak out way to easily on here? Are they bad? Yes. But, not every concussion alters a players career. If it wasn't so prevalent in sports, in particular hockey, people would still care, but not as much as they do now.

I know it seems like I'm taking the issue lightly, but I think it is more of the opposite, there is way too much overreaction on this forum in particular.

Richards will get his contract, and he will play the same way he always did. I guarantee it. GMs have access to medical records, we don't, considering Richards medical history, a concussion is the smallest of factors when they decide on his value.

Bye bye McCabe, terribly Rich Pilon like foot speed. Has the power play really improved? And when he does shoot everyone knows and his shot gets blocked. Oh and not to mention he sucks in his own zone.

I'm absolutely sick of hearing the word concussion to be honest... people freak out way to easily on here? Are they bad? Yes. But, not every concussion alters a players career. If it wasn't so prevalent in sports, in particular hockey, people would still care, but not as much as they do now.

I know it seems like I'm taking the issue lightly, but I think it is more of the opposite, there is way too much overreaction on this forum in particular.

Richards will get his contract, and he will play the same way he always did. I guarantee it. GMs have access to medical records, we don't, considering Richards medical history, a concussion is the smallest of factors when they decide on his value.

Also his age, small injury history, mostly just ding worthy for 5 or so games but occassional big injuries too, his contract demand both length and cash wise and our history with meeting those demands. All totals up to "Stop giving us reasons to dislike this possible signing" but the hits keep coming.

I know it's very tragic to think this way but the Rangers desperately need offense. Going after Chris Stewart would have been a start but I suppose the team needs more finesse type players (like "the great Gabby") as opposed too a hybrid who's more of a power forward and creates fits for opposing goalies and defense men.

But this team has two shut down pairs (not to mention Mcilrath is up and coming and will not exactly be in the lineup for his offense). Other options are Valentenko and/or Del Zotto (or more, idk much about other "D" prospects on the Whale).

So why not separate with one of McDonagh or Staal and bring in someone who can create some offense and help bolster up that top line?

Let's face it. This team will never get a top 5 pick. So the rest of the league will be getting players like Crosby, Malkin, P.Kane, Toews, Lecavalier, Stamkos, E. Staal, Skinner, Tavares, Hall, Nash, Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Backstrom, Duchene, etc....

That's at least 9 or 10 teams who have realized at one point or another, that they have to take their lumps and suffer through a bad season or two. It's not "tanking." It's coming to the realization that what's best for the organization in the long term is not to bring in an aging Jagr so that the team fights for an 8th seed for 2 or 3 years while he's got enough left in the tank.

Same with Gaborik. If the Rangers do not get Richards, what is the point in keeping this guy and his enormous contract?
I suppose the real answer to that question would come from Dolan. He knows fans will fill the Garden if the team has a chance to grab a 7th or 8th seed because after all, anything can happen in the playoffs. WoW!!! Maybe we win a round!! But is that the ultimate goal? There's no long term plan in that.

Besides, I don't buy Sather's BS for a second. If he had more cap room to bring in an aging player, equivalent to say, Valeri Kamensky, he would. Then throw 6 mil per for someone like Brian Skrudland or Mike Keane or both.

Anyway, I'm straying off topic but if the Rangers cannot obtain elite forward talent via the entry draft, they either need to do it through free agency (Sather is around 0 for 5 in that area) or make some trades.

I know it's very tragic to think this way but the Rangers desperately need offense. Going after Chris Stewart would have been a start but I suppose the team needs more finesse type players (like "the great Gabby") as opposed too a hybrid who's more of a power forward and creates fits for opposing goalies and defense men.

But this team has two shut down pairs (not to mention Mcilrath is up and coming and will not exactly be in the lineup for his offense). Other options are Valentenko and/or Del Zotto (or more, idk much about other "D" prospects on the Whale).

So why not separate with one of McDonagh or Staal and bring in someone who can create some offense and help bolster up that top line?

Let's face it. This team will never get a top 5 pick. So the rest of the league will be getting players like Crosby, Malkin, P.Kane, Toews, Lecavalier, Stamkos, E. Staal, Skinner, Tavares, Hall, Nash, Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Backstrom, Duchene, etc....

That's at least 9 or 10 teams who have realized at one point or another, that they have to take their lumps and suffer through a bad season or two. It's not "tanking." It's coming to the realization that what's best for the organization in the long term is not to bring in an aging Jagr so that the team fights for an 8th seed for 2 or 3 years while he's got enough left in the tank.

Same with Gaborik. If the Rangers do not get Richards, what is the point in keeping this guy and his enormous contract?
I suppose the real answer to that question would come from Dolan. He knows fans will fill the Garden if the team has a chance to grab a 7th or 8th seed because after all, anything can happen in the playoffs. WoW!!! Maybe we win a round!! But is that the ultimate goal? There's no long term plan in that.

Besides, I don't buy Sather's BS for a second. If he had more cap room to bring in an aging player, equivalent to say, Valeri Kamensky, he would. Then throw 6 mil per for someone like Brian Skrudland or Mike Keane or both.

Anyway, I'm straying off topic but if the Rangers cannot obtain elite forward talent via the entry draft, they either need to do it through free agency (Sather is around 0 for 5 in that area) or make some trades.

Agreed to an extent. But instead of moving Staal or McDonagh I look to move Girardi. I think Sauer can do Girardi's job just as well and better in the future, and to be completely honest Girardi should not be a top-pairing d-man. We need a PMD with Staal. I would not be opposed to moving Girardi if that meant getting a legitimate top-6 player or great PMD. Also, I look to move Girardi first because I will never forget him haplessly watching Gaborik eat Carcillo's punches. Yes, I am holding a grudge and I don't care. That was some seriously weak stuff.

He'll be fine for whatever team he plays for next year. I'm pretty sure that was his first concussion, and it wasn't even a serious one (look at Crosby, HIS was bad), he may be a bit rusty coming off it, but the concussion surely hasn't changed his ability.

LOL I love when people make things up from some imagined knowledge base. There is a lot of 'sure' in your statements about things you cannot possibly be sure about. Richards would be a risk no matter how you spin it.

I think the real issue with this team is in the thread title: What Sather does this offseason. Why does this team continually get a makeover every summer? The organization keeps throwing money at the problem, and the answer is right in their faces every night on the ice in the form of guys like Callahan, Stepan, Dubinsky, Staal, Anisimov, McDonagh, Sauer, Lundqvist, Girardi, etc, etc. It's the guys that come from within that put in the effort every night. They're the answer. Not the hired guns who have spent their entire careers in other cities.

It's simple, really; If you develop players from within the organization, they're now invested in the success of the organization and they'll give you a more consistent effort every night.

I mean, am I honestly the only one who is getting tired of having this same "Who should we buy?" conversation every spring?